ROYAL NEWS

Secondus charges PDP leaders to brace up for challenges

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, has called on all newly-elected leaders of the party to brace up for the challenges ahead, saying they were huge.

Secondus made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day retreat for the National Working Committee (NWC) and Chairmen of the PDP in the states.

He said that the time for individualistic ideology was over, and that in moving forward, all must collectively channel their energy and resources toward achieving the party’s immediate goal, which was regaining power in 2019.

The chairman said that the ability of PDP to win in 2019 had implications not just on the party, but on the country.

“It is based on this reason that we are starting on a fresh note. We must be ready to compromise on personal agenda where necessary as well as make sacrifices for the greater good of the party.

“As a party in opposition, we must be ready to forgo certain deserving privileges for the good of the party.

“The point where we are at the moment is at the crossroad where we are about to take the critical decision of which direction to go – right or left.

“Our choice should be swift, clear and unambiguous; we are going right and it leads us straight to Aso Rock,’’ he said.

Secondus said that leaders must begin to invest in the party with the aim of repackaging and eventually unveiling a reformed PDP to the Nigerian electorate so as to regain their confidence.

“We must re-define who we are in the minds of Nigerians, down to the grassroots.

“We must let the people know that we are ready to re-ignite the fire that once made Nigeria a shining beacon in Africa and the world over by returning this party to the real owners, the people,’’ he said.

He added that the actions were necessary for PDP to reclaim the territory it lost across the three tiers of government in 2015.

Secondus said that the mandate given to new leaders of the party was to rebuild and re-position the party with a view to regaining the lost power.

“The only way to achieve what we have set out to do is by bringing all our stakeholders to work together as one larger family,’’ he said.

The national chairman pledged that the NWC members would continue to promote the principles of democratic practice, progressive politics, good and effective leadership, and national interest within PDP.

He added that they would also re-strategize PDP communication channels, especially social media.

“No matter what a political party does, if it does not have effective communication, it can’t achieve much.

“PDP needs more strategic engagement to lose and unbundle any negative impression already created by the opposition,’’ Secondus said.

The Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Walid Jibrin, charged the party leaders to use the retreat to discuss the philosophy and principles of the party.

“This is in fact necessary at all levels of the party as well as building a strong party identity,’’ Jibrin said.

The theme of the retreat is “Re-positioning PDP for Dominance and Electoral Victory.’’